What should you ask the property manager first?
Request the building’s moving policy in writing for both the apartment you are leaving and the one you are entering. Confirm permitted dates and move hours, including any weekend, holiday, quiet-hour, or after-hours restrictions. Ask where the moving vehicle may stop, whether a loading dock or designated entrance is required, and who controls access on moving day. Find out whether you must reserve a freight elevator, loading area, key, fob, or loading-dock time. Record each reservation window and ask what happens if the move runs beyond it. Also confirm whether the building requires advance notice, refundable deposits, floor or wall protection, an onsite contact, or a pre-move inspection. For curb access outside the property, consult the City of Raleigh’s parking maps and apps at https://raleighnc.gov/transportation/services/maps-and-apps. A loading zone shown on a map is not permission to block a lane, driveway, fire lane, or signed space; verify the applicable rules rather than assuming access.
Does the building require a certificate of insurance?
Ask whether the property requires a certificate of insurance, commonly called a COI, from the selected mover. If so, obtain the exact certificate holder name and address, additional-insured wording, coverage requirements, submission method, approval contact, and deadline. Do not rely on a sample from another property because wording and limits may differ. Send the requirements to prospective movers before making a final selection. Ask whether they can provide the requested document and whether the building must approve it before arrival. A COI documents specified insurance information; it does not replace reviewing the mover’s identity, authority, estimate, valuation terms, or claims procedure. If the move is entirely within North Carolina, the North Carolina Utilities Commission publishes information about certified intrastate household-goods carriers at https://www.ncuc.gov/industries/transportation/transportation.html. For an interstate move, use FMCSA Protect Your Move at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move.
Will furniture fit through every part of the route?
Walk the path from the approved unloading point to each room. Measure door openings at their narrowest usable width and height, accounting for handles, closers, thresholds, railings, low ceilings, and turns. Measure hallways, stair width, landings, elevator doors, elevator interiors, and tight corners. Compare those dimensions with sofas, bed frames, tables, desks, appliances, and other large pieces. Note obstacles such as steps before the entrance, long carries, uneven surfaces, limited dock clearance, or doors that cannot be propped open. Ask management whether doors, railings, or fixtures may be removed and who is authorized to do so. Share measurements, photos, and restrictions when requesting an estimate; do not assume an item can be tilted or disassembled safely.
How should you protect and document common areas?
Ask which protective materials the building permits and who is responsible for installing them. The route may require floor runners, elevator pads, corner guards, door-jamb protection, or wall protection. Confirm whether adhesives are prohibited and whether management supplies elevator padding. Before work begins, photograph the approved route, including floors, walls, doors, elevators, and loading areas. Capture existing marks clearly and report them according to building policy. Keep copies of inspection forms and reservation confirmations. After the move, inspect the same areas with the appropriate property contact when possible and document their condition again. Create one access sheet containing both addresses, management contacts, move windows, reservation details, parking instructions, COI status, measurements, and protection rules. Add it to your broader plan using the /resources/moving-inventory-for-quotes/ moving inventory guide, then share the access sheet with any mover you ask to estimate the job.